Recording meter



June 18, 1935. R. PUDELKO l 2,005,108

RECORDING METER Filed Aug. 19, 1951 ooovo'oooooo ATTORNEYS Patented June 18, 1935 UNITED STATES RECORDING METER Riccard Pudelko, Zug, Switzerland, assignor to h,Lilndis Gyr, A.G., a corporation of Switzer- Appumioii August 19,

1931, Serial No. 558,066

In Switzerland September 2, 1930 2 Claims.

The invention relates to new and useful improvements in mechanisms for recording energy ilow or other physical magnitudes; and in certain of its features more especially to such im- Ai5 provements in mechanisms designed to give a timed record of electrical energy consumption or output. Y

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned by practice with the invention, the same being realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended The invention consists in the ovel parts, constructions, arrangements, combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawing, referred to herein and constituting a part hereof, illustrates one embodiment of the invention, and together with the description, serves to explain the principles of the invention. Y

Of the drawing:-

Eig. 1 is an elevation, partly diagrammatic, of a mechanism constructed and operating in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view of one form of record sheet produced by the mechanism of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view of a different form of record sheet, and F18rlig. 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 of 'Lhe invention has as one of its principal objects the making or production of a record showing concurrently, and preferably on a single sheet, both a numerical and graphical record of energy output or consumption in connection with a record of the actual and elapsed time. In one of its particular adaptations, the invention is applied to a maximum demand meter mechanism, and as so applied preferably produces on a single record sheet a series or succession of ordinates, and also an associated and corresponding series of numerical values, representing the energy output or consumption during predetermined elapsed time periods, the time periods and the actual time likewise being .printed in alignment or other convenient iuxtaposition upon the sheet.

'I'he invention provides a single measuring instrumentality for recording energy flow and other physical magnitudes, whereby both a numerical andagraphic recordationoftheflowormngnitude is made, preferably on a single record sheet; thereby securing in a single or concurrent record the advantagesl of both systems of recordation, and obtaining also the checking effect of each. system against possible error in the other. Such combined record also shows a clear graphic pic'- ture of the recorded physical magnitudes, and 5 moreover, gives immediate numerical indications of the graphic records corresponding to the physical magnitude.

The recording instrument can be provided with two recording devices controlled by the measuring l0 system and adapted for graphic and numerical recordingand with a printing device which is periodically actuated and which effects at least the numerical recording of the magnitudes on the recording strip or chart. If the measuring inl5 strument be made in the form of a maximum demand meter, there are provided two recording devices adapted for the graphic and numerical recording of the magnitudes and controlled by the measuring system, viz. a periodically actuated 20 printingdevice producing the two diierent records on the recording strip or chart and a setting back device returning the two recording devices to the zero position at the end of the recording period. Preferably the printing and the setting back de- 25 vices are controlled by an auxiliary motor, in order to remove the load from the measuring system.

The foregoing general description, and the following detailed description as well, are illustra-l tive and exemplary, but not' restrictive of the 30 invention.

Referring now to the embodiment of the invention shown by way of example in the accompanying drawing, the metering mechanism is represented somewhat conventionally by a meter disc i 35 fixed on a spindle 2, there being a driving worm 3 also fixed on the spindle, all in a well-known manner. 'I'he means for periodically making the graphical record ofthe measured quantities may be similar to the means shown and described in the patent to Mettler 1,598,739 of' 1926, and is so shown in connection with the illustrative embodi ment of the present invention.

In the embodied Ameins. for driving from the meter the devices for making the concurrent graphical and numerical records of the energy output or consumption for a predetermined time period, the worm 3 meshes with and drivesla worm wheel 9, loosely mounted. on a' shaft Il. 5-0 Also loosely mounted on the shaft 'Il is a gear wheel Il, which is driven from and with the worm wheel 3 by means of s friction drive, comprising a helical compression spring 'i2 embracing'theshaft Ilandbearingatitsendsonthe worm wheel and the gear, respectively. This friction `drive advances the recording mechanism accurately with the meter, and also prevents damage to, or disturbance of, the meter during the opposite restoring movement of the recording mechanism. Meshing with gear wheel I I is agear wheel I6, loosely mounted on a shaft I4, which shaft extends across and is journaled in the side frames l5 and I1 of the mechanism. This shaft I4 rotates the record-making mechanisms, as will be later described. Means are provided whereby the meter mechanism I will drive shaft I4 forwardly during the energy recording time period, and therewith the record-making mechanism, and cooperating therewith are means whereby the shaft I4 is oppositely rotated to substantially instantly restore the record-making mechanism to initial position at the end of a time period. yAs embodied, integral with gear wheel I6 is a bevel sun wheel I9, with which meshes a bevel planet wheel 20, which is loosely mounted on an arm 2|. Arm 2| is fixed to shaft I4. so that the shaft I4 is rotated by and with the planet wheel 20, in e direction. during the record-making move ent, and in the opposite direction during the restoring movement.

In the embodied form' of mechanism, the graphical representation of the measure of energy vfor the elapsed predetermined time period is printed as an ordinate. In said embodiment a roller 21'is fixed on shaft I4 (which it will be recalled is frictionally driven from the meter) to` rotate therewith. The length of the ordinate or graph line printed is determined by providing the roller 21 with a high printing surface, and a depressed non-printing surface'. These are so shaped and disposed that, with the particular kind of printing means employed, the length of the ordinate as printed on the record sheet will be determined by the amount of angular motion or rotation which has been imparted to the roller 21 during the predetermined time period. As embodied, the high or printing surface 28 of the roller has one edge 29 thereof extending along the surface of the roller substantially as an element of the cylindrical surface, the other edge 30 sub-- stantially in the form of a helix, having a pitch substantially equal to the length of the roller, the two edges on the high part 28 meeting at the ends of the roller. The remaining surface area 3| of the roller is depressed, or of shorter radius, so as to render it nonprinting; By means of the mechanism already described it will be seen that as the meter mechanism l is driven, the cylinder 21 will be rotated, and gradually of greater length, considered along an element of the cylinder, of the high or printing part 29 of the roller 21 will y, be presented at any .given printing point.

Referring now to themechanism for storing and recording the numerical value of the current for a. predeterminedk time interval, a plurality of counting wheels 31, 38 and 39, (which alsoact as printing devices) are mounted loosely on shaft I4. at the other end of the roller 21. As embodied, the counting mechanism is rotated directly from roller 21. -For this purpose, fixed to the other end of roller 21 is a gear'wheel 40,

'- which meshes with a pinion 4I, fixed on a shaft 42, which shaft isvjournaled at 43 and 44 in the machine. frame. -Fixed also on shaft 42 is a gear Vwheel 45, meshing with a pinion 46, fixed to the units, or. ther lowest'denomination or quantity, number w l 31. Suitable carrying, or forwarding, driving gear mechanisms 49 and 50, which may be of any suitable form, connect the number be progressed in said timed relation, by the clock mechanism, as indicated at 58.

The embodied form of printing means coacting with the roller 21 and number wheels 31, 38 and 39, previously described, operates 'as a platen mechanism, which is pressed against the roller 21 and the number wheels at the end of each predetermined time period. As embodied, a platen 6I is mounted close to the record sheet 59, and is reciprocable to and fro by any suitable means, such as guides .of the usual form.v As the ordinate, or other graph printing means coactlng with cylinder 21, on the printing surface of the platen 6I, opposite the cylinder 21, is a straight, projecting sharp edge 62, which may be regarded as parallel to, or corresponding to an element of the cylinder 21. As the coacting means for printing the numerical values, at the end of the /platen 6 l, just opposite the numbering wheels is a iiat smooth portion 63, adapted to press the record sheet 51 against 'the number wheels and to make an imprint therefrom upon the record sheet, giving the numerical value corresponding to the graphical record.

The platen 6I is provided with an endless ribbon 61, passing over rollers 68 and 69 at either end of the platen, the ribbon thus being between the platen andthe record sheet 51. When the platen is actuated, at the end of a predetermined time interval, it presses against the record sheet 51 and carries the sheet against the roller 21 and the numbering Wheels, and the figures in printing position of the number wheels will be printed on the record sheet as shown at a. At the same time the edge 62 will press the ribbon and the record sheet against the high part 28 of the roller 21, and the length of the straight line or ordinate b which is printed on the record sheet 51 will be determined by the part ci? the helical edge 30, and consequently of the raised or printing portion 28 of the roller 21, which is then opposite the ordinate marking device 62, the length of the line h corresponding of course to the magnitude measured in the time period.

In the preferred form of motive or actuating means for printing the record at the end of each predetermined time interval and for restoring the mechanism to initial position to make a new record for the succeeding ltime interval, there is an auxiliary motor governedby a time switch 96, which may be of any standard or othersuitable design. At the end of a predetermined period ottime, for example, every fifteen minutes, the

, segments 99, 99 one carried on measuring the energy during the new time interval.

The means for operating both the printing and resto g mechanism from the motor 95 comprises a common motor shaft 91, which projects from both sides of the motor 95, and similar gear each end of the shaft 91. Gear segment 99 is adapted to mesh with the gear 16 oi' the printing mechanism and drive it one complete revolution. Gear segment 99 is adapted to mesh with the gear 99 of the restoring mechanism and to rotate same a sumcient amount to return the mechanism to the desired point ior a new recording. Means are provided for stopping the motor 99 after one cycle of printing and restoring operashaft l91 to control said g the time switch 99 starts the motor 95 which then closes switcl |99 at which time switch 499 is disconnected. The motor continues operation until it completes its cycle and is stopped by the cam |9| breaking the connection through switch |99.

Referring nrst to the drive for the printing devices, as embodied, connected to the motor so a cam ||i| on motor switch. In operation as to receive a single'rotation when the time switch energizes the motor 99, is a gear wheel 19 mounted on a shaft 11. The gear wheel has pivotally connected thereto one end of a connecting rod 19, the other end of the rod being, pivotally connected at 19 to the platen 9|, and thereby the platen receives a single actuation just prior to the restoring movement of the recordlng mechanism. For the purpose of restoring the recording mechanism, as embodied, a gear wheel 99 is connected with the auxiliary motor, the gear wheel being loosely mounted on a shaft 99. A pinion 95 is likewise loosely mounted on shaft 99, and is`frictionaily connected to gear wheel 99 to rotate therewith, by'vlmeans of a helical spring 91, mounted on shaft 99 and in compression between the gears 99 and 99. Meshing with pinion 99 is a gear wheel 99 loosely Journaled on shaft |9, and havinga bevel sun wheel' 9| nxed thereto which meshes with the planet wheel 29. After the record is printed, .as'already' described, the motor drives gear wheel 99,l and through planet wheel 29, through gears 99, 9| and 95, 96 reversely rotates the numbering wheels, and brings them all back to initial recording position. To arrest the recording roller 21 and thev numbering wheels at initial position, a stop pin 93 on wheel 99 engages with a stop 99 on the frame, the friction drive 91 permitting this irrespective of the exact stopping point or time of the auxiliary motor. The motor is then thrown out by a time switch. and the roller 21 and the numbering wheels are again'advan'ced by the meter mechanism to vmake the energy record. in the new time period. tions and as embodied, comprise a switch |99 and 2 If desired specinc forms of the graphic record may be made other than that which is effected by a recording measuring apparatus as shown in Figure 1.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific mechanisms shown and described but departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from the principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

What I claim isz-'- 1. An energy ilow measuring instrument including in combination a meter, means driven by the meter'proportional to the energy ilowf and devices, including a coactlng platen. for making both a graphic and numerical record at the end of a predetermined time period.

2. An energy Vilow measuring instrument including in combination a. meter, a numerical recording device, a rotatory graphical recording device, means for driving both said devices from the meter, means, including a coacting platen, for making a, concurrent numerical and graphical record from said devices, and means for restoring saiddevieetoaninitial positionformakinganew energymeasurement. -A

RIOCARD PUDELKO.

reversely rotates roller 21, andv 

